Property owners in the Hempfield Area School District will be paying more in real estate taxes after board members adopted a 2023-24 budget by a 6-2 vote.

The budget includes about $106.9 million in expenditures, which amounts to a 2.3 mill property tax increase. The increase will help close a $1.4 million shortfall in revenues.

The millage increase, to 85.76 mills, would add $51.81 to the annual bill for the owner of a property with an assessed value of $22,525.

Hempfield business manager Paul Schott said that revenues are expected to increase by about $2.8 million over last year, while expenditures will increase about $4.2 million.

Increased costs include nearly $1.3 million more in health insurance costs, over $900,000 for new curriculum purchases, and $140,000 to hire three new police officers for the district.

“I don’t want anyone to think that there are just three items that are contributing to the (tax) raise,” Schott said. “There are other increases, many of which were offset by other revenue.”

Board member Vince DeAugustine was absent and director Jeanne Smith voted via phone to adopt the budget.

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